Combination switch and starter for fluorescent lights



May 29, 1951 F. A. MAucH COMBINATION swITcH AND STARTER FOR FLuoREscENT LIGHTS Filed Feb. l5, 1947 45 INVENTon FRED A. MAL/CH ATTDRN Y Patented May 29, 1951 COMBINATION SWITCH AND STARTER FOR, FLUORESCENT LIGHTS Fred A. Manch, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-half to Lloyd F. Johnson, Redwood City, and one-.half to Robert Mayne, Monterey, Calif.

Application February 13, 1947, Serial No. 728,314

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a combination switch and starter for fluorescent lights and has for the primary object to eliminate the flicker in iiuorescent tubes when the starter point is worn or poor contact is made.

The invention particularly relates to switches of the chain type that operates the switch when the chain is pulled after which the operating mechanism connected to the chain automatically moves back to its original position. That type of switch usually includes in its construction a resiliently controlled insulation disc, or the like, which functions to close and open the switch.

The specific object of the present invention is to provide an additional or a second electric circuit for the switch and to provide means on the switch operating mechanism for closing the said second circuit for a split second immediately after the main circuit 'is closed, causing an arc across the fluorescent tube for lighting the same during the operation o f the switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the said means, for temporarily closing the second circuit, on the side insulation disc whereby the arcng across the iluorescent tube is accomplished automatically in the closing of the switch.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination switch and starter of the character described that is durable, practical, simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and highly eicient and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, wherein for the purpose of illustration like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 isa diagrammatic plan View of the combination switch and starter showing the same electrically connected in a conventional manner to the uorescent tube and also showing the second circuit employed and illustrating the principle of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional View of the improved switch taken through the electric contact members connected to the main circuit and shows the switch in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 2, except showing the starter in its closed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View taken through line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in direction of the 2 arrows, particularly illustrating the means provided for operating the switch and starter in synchronism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View taken through line 5 5 of Fig. 3, looking in direction of the arrows, particularly illustrating the coil spring for automatically controlling the starter disc;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the starter disc;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the combined switch and starter;

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the main switch control disc with the switch contact elements thereon; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the starter disc looking at the view shown in Fig. 6 in direction of the arrow 9.

Referring in detail to the drawing and the numerals thereof, the numeral I0 designates the switch receptacle as a whole, preferably formed of two recessed members I I and I2 and substantially secured together by a suitable bolt and nut I3 and I4, respectively. The said nut I4 ,can be xed to the receptacle if desired. Any other suitable means can be provided for securing the two members of the receptacle together. The numerals I5 and I6 designate the two main circuit electric contact members illustrated in the form of suitable screws or bolts extending in the receptacle as shown in Fig. 2 and secured thereto by the nuts I'I and I8, respectively. The numeral I9 designates a resilient electric contact member secured to the bolt I6 for accommodating a conventional socket when the device is used in connection therewith. However, the electric conductors can lead directly from the bolts I5 and I6, as shown by the conductors 2B and 2I in Fig. 1, if desired.

A thin metal disc 22, formed with outwardly flaring projections 23 and 24, is provided and is secured to a metal ratchet disc 25 by suitable rivets 26', as shown to advantage in Figs. 2 and 8. The said discs are apertured as at 26 and revolvably mounted on the reduced portion of the bolt I3, whereby the shoulder 21 of the said bolt retains the said projections 23 and 24 in tight contact with the heads of the bolts I5 and I6 as shown in Fig. 2, when the switch is in its closed position.

The starter disc is designated as a whole by the numeral 28 and is formed of electric insulation material such as hard rubber, fibre or a suitable plastic and fits within the lower receptacle portion I2, as shown in Fig. 2, and is revolvably supported on the bolt I3 as at 29. A

semi-circular wall 30 is formed on the said starter disc and extends above the top face 3| of the same. It will be noted that the ratchet disc 25 freely operates inside of the inner periphery of the said semi-circular Wall 30 and is positioned in proximity to the said top face 3| of the starter disc. A pawl 32, as shown in Fig. 4, preferably formed of a curved resilient spring member is secured to the semi-circular wall 38 as at 33 and is adapted to engage any one of the ratchet teeth 34, 35, 36 and 3'I of the ratchet disc 25. A handle 38, capable of carrying a chain 39 is provided on the starter disc 28 and the wall of the lower receptacle I2 is slotted as at 40 for accommodating the said handle, the termination points 40 and 4I of the said slot also providing stops for limiting the circumferential movement of the discs to one fourth turn. A coil spring 42, having its ends fixed into the bolt I3 and starter disc 28, as shown to advantage at 45 and 44 in Fig. 5, functions in the recessed portion 45 of the starter disc for resiliently retaining the latter in its stopped position. A metal electric contact member 46 is xed into the starter disc as at 41 and is adapted to engage the electric contact members 48 and 49 Xed in the upper receptacle I I each time circumferential movement is imparted to the said disc for operating the switch. The upper receptacle II is shown as threaded at II'; and the receptacles I I and I2 can be constructed in any suitable manner and made of porcelain or any other suitable material.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated an electric wiring system employed in conjunction with the combination switch and automatic starter for conlpleting the invention.

The numeral 50 designates a conventional fluorescent tube and the numerals I, 52 and 53 designate the ballast, capacitor and choke, respectively. The numerals 54 and 55 designate the line supplying the electric current and into which the system is connected. The numeral 56 designates an electric conductor leading from the line 55 to the ballast, and the numeral 20 designates an electric conductor leading from the line 54 to the contact bolt I5 provided in the upper receptacle II of the switch. Likewise, an electric conductor 2| leads from the second contact bolt I6, in the said receptacle II, to the fluorescent tube 50. An electric conductor 5'I leads from the conductor 2I to the ballast and a conductor 58 leads from the ballast to the said fluorescent tube completing the main circuit. The numerals 59 and 59 designate the filaments of the uorescent light. 'I'he numerals 60 and 6I designate electric conductors leading from the starter electric contact members 48 and 49, in the upper receptacle II of the switch, to the fluorescent tube 50, completing the second or starter circuit.

From the foregoing description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it will be obvious that when the starter disc is turned one-fourth revolution in the direction of the arrow 62, shown to advantage in Fig. 4, the pawl 32, engaging the tooth 35, will cause the ratchet disc '25 to turn one-fourth revolution to a position Where the second pawl 63, fixed to the lower receptacle I2 as at 64, will engage the tooth 36 and prevent the ratchet disc 25 from turning back while the coil spring 42 is returning the starter disc to its normal operative position, whereby the pawl 32 will engage the tooth 34 of said ratchet disc 25, putting the switch in order for the next operation. In Fig. 1, the switch is shown in one of its closed positions with the metal projections 23 and 24 on the circuit contact points I5 and I6, respectively. When the ratchet plate 25 is turned one-fourth revolution in the direction of the arrow 62 the switch will be open and the said projections 23 and 24 will be in alignment with the horizontal center line A. It will now be apparent that when the said ratchet disc is turned another one-fourth revolution by turning the starter disc 28 the switch will be again in the closed position and as the coil spring returns the said starter disc 28 to its normal position the electric contact member 46 thereon will electrically connect the starter contact points 48 and 49 for a split second, closing the starter circuit after the main circuit is closed for a split second, causing an arc to be produced across the tube, automatically and instantly lighting the tube and eliminating all flicker in the light. The present device can be employed on 20, 30 or 40 watt tubes, while the starters of other types now on the market must match the particular tubes used.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that Various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A combination switch and starter for fluorescent tubes and the like, comprising a switch circuit and a starter circuit, a receptacle made of electric insulation material, said receptacle being made in halves, a bolt and nut for retaining the said halves one to the other, a resiliently controlled disc made of electric insulation material positioned within the receptacle and revolvably mounted on the said bolt, means on the said disc for temporarily closing the starter circuit, a second disc revolvably positioned on the said bolt, the said second disc being in the form of a ratchet, and means on the second disc for closing the switch circuit.

FRED A. MAUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,295,713 Buckley A Sept. l5, 1942 2,318,057 Cohen l May 4, 1943 2,332,434 Buckley Oct. 19, 1943 2,335,640 Bryant Nov. 30, 1943 

